Iraqi forces made further progress in their advance against Islamic State (ISIS / Daesh / ISIL) forces on Wednesday near the district of Fallujah, the militants' stronghold to the west of Baghdad, Al-Alam News network reports.

The army said they had liberated the villages of Otor, Za’antha, Theeban and part of Heetawiyeen, in addition to Abbas Bridge, southeast of Fallujah.

A video released by the Ministry of Defense showed Iraqi soldiers attacking targets from the outskirts of Fallujah. The army was previously surrounding Fallujah from positions outside the city, which is located 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad.

Islamic State (Daesh / ISIS) fighters raised their flag there in January 2014 before sweeping through much of Iraq’s north and west, declaring a caliphate several months later, from Mosul.

The army started the offensive on May 23, with the backing of Shia pro-government forces known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and air support from the U.S.-led coalition.

Fallujah would be the third major city in Iraq recaptured by the government after former leader Saddam Hussein’s hometown Tikrit and Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province.

Abadi has expressed hope that 2016 would be year of “final victory” over Islamic State (Daesh / ISIS), with the capture of Mosul, their de facto capital in northern Iraq.